TABULARIUM
a repository for state archives, probably in large part those
belonging to the aerarium in the neighbouring temple of Saturn, that
was built by Q. Lutatius Catulus in 78 B.C. on the south-east slope of the
Capitoline. Before its construction the
ταμειε̂ον ἀγορανόμων was used
for the purpose of preserving the state records (see
ATRIUM PUBLICUM).
It is not mentioned in literature, but its identification is based on two
inscriptions, one copied by Signorili and Poggio (
CIL i. 737=vi. 1314):
Q . Lutatius . Q . f . Q . n . Catulus . cos. substructionem et tabularium .
de . s . s . faciundum . coeravit . eidemque . probavit; and the other still
partially preserved in one of the rooms of the building (CIL i². 736
=vi. 1133=31597):
Q . Lu]tatius . Q . f . Q . n . C[atulus . cos . de . s]en . sent . faciundu[m . coeravit.] eidemque . prob[avit]. The second story
seems to have been added, or at least rebuilt, about the end of the first
century (see below), but nothing else is known of the history of the
building until the reign of Boniface VIII (about 1300 A.D.), when the
present tower at the north end was erected. Later, Michelangelo destroyed the entire upper and western part, and built the present Palazzo
del Senatore directly upon the ancient structure (
LS ii. 70).
This building, trapezoidal in shape, occupied all the space between
the clivus Capitolinus on the south-west and the flight of steps (gradus
Monetae ?) which led up past the carcer to the arx on the north-east.
On the forum side the foundation wall began on the level of the area
Volcani, and the substructio (cf. inscription) consisted of this wall,
3.43 metres thick, with a series of six recesses out of which narrow windows
open, and a corridor between it and the tufa rock of the hill itself. This
corridor is now blocked at both ends and may always have been so.
Above this corridor of the substructio is the corridor of the first story
of the Tabularium proper, 5 metres wide and o1 high, extending the
whole length of the building and originally open at both ends, but not
connected with any other part. Its front was an arcade of the Doric
order, with engaged columns of peperino. There were eleven arches,
7.50 metres in height and 3.54-3.60 in width, all but one of which have
been walled up. This arcade afforded the means of communication
between the two portions of the Capitoline, and formed a striking architectural terminus for the forum. Its effect, however, was greatly marred
by the erection of the temple of Vespasian and the porticus Deorum
Consentium, and by the enlargement of the temple of Concord. All of
the second story was removed by Michelangelo, but the few fragments
that have been found indicate an arcade of the Corinthian order immediately above that of the first story. These fragments are apparently of
the Flavian period, but it is impossible to say whether this story was an
addition or restoration.
Behind the corridor of the first story are supporting walls and piers,
and one large hall on a higher level than the corridor, which probably
opened out on the Asylum. From this hall a long flight of sixty-six
steps, partly cut in the rock, leads down to the ground through a fine
arched doorway in the wall of the substructure. These steps have no
connection with any other part of the building, and afforded direct
access from the forum to the upper part of the Tabularium and the
summit of the Capitoline. When the temple of Vespasian was built, its
podium effectually blocked the entrance to this staircase. On the
north-east side of the Tabularium were two stories of rooms fronting
on the way up to the arx. Those of the first story opened into each
other, and were connected by a stairway with the corridor of the substruction. Part of the wall of the south-west side is still standing, with
a large rectangular niche opening on the clivus Capitolinus, which is
now used as the entrance; while a small piece of the travertine plinth
of the north-west fagade is preserved in the cellars of the Palazzo del
Senatore (
JRS 1919, 192).
The masonry of the Tabularium shows the best republican workmanship. It is wholly of opus quadratum, with blocks uniformly two Roman
feet in height and width, and averaging four in length. They are laid
in alternate courses of headers and stretchers (emplecton), with a thin
layer of cement. The outer walls are of sperone (Gabine stone), the
bases and capitals of the half-columns and the imposts of the arches
of travertine, and the inner walls of Anio tufa; while most of the vaults
are of concrete. The building was once used as a storehouse for salt
and the inner walls have suffered much from corrosion. For a complete
description of the Tabularium and its literature, see Delbrueck,
Hellenistische Bauten in Latium, 1907, i. 23-46, pls. 3-9; ii. pi. 3; also
Middleton, Ancient Rome ia. 372-377; Jord. i. I. 135-154; LR 295-298;
LS ii. 70; D'Esp.
Mon. i. 125, 126; TF 49-51; ZA 30-33; Mem. L.
5. xvii. 505; ASA 18, 19, 21.